Brother and I are looking at Jon boats.  Looking at places like Tracker and Lowe, etc.

 

I'm noticing on their weight ratings that there's a big difference between the max person weight vs the max person, motor and gear weight.

 

For instance, the Grizzly 1648 Jon says max person weight is 555lbs while the max p/m/g weight is 1055lbs.  Is that saying you don't want more than 555lbs of people in the boat (both my brother and I are pretty close to if not over that amount combined) or is there some wiggle room up to that max p/m/g weight of 1055lbs?  

 

I don't think we could possibly have almost 500lbs in motor/gear so could we "make up" that weight in ourselves?  

I wouldn’t be too concerned as long as you aren’t several hundred pound over. As far the motor and gear weight, you’d be surprised how fast that adds up. A 4 stroke 40hp motor weighs 200. Starting battery and one trolling motor and battery adds another 150 pounds, include a tank of gas, and you are at 400 lbs. Bring a cooler of ice, drinks, an anchor, a live well full of water and a couple of tackle boxes and you are over 500. 

The more weight in the boat the lower you will be to the water. Be prepared to get wet from 6" rollers if you are tipping the weight limit.

I've heard that the reason they specify a lower people weigh than p/m/g is because people are movable weight.  If you're above person weight and everybody moves to the same side of the boat at the same time things could get dangerous real quick.  If your motor and gear are moving around your probably already in trouble. i really don't think you will capsize the boat but it could lean far enough that you lose your ballence and fall overboard.